Gaming Statistics, Trends & Data (2023)
Discover key insights into the world of gaming through comprehensive gaming statistics, encompassing player demographics, spending patterns, and gaming trends.
Gaming Statistics, Trends & Data (2023)
Discover key insights into the world of gaming through comprehensive gaming statistics, encompassing player demographics, spending patterns, and gaming trends.
In recent years, the gaming industry has experienced a surge, transforming from a niche hobby to a global cultural phenomenon. With 3.3 billion gamers across platforms and genres, gaming has become a fundamental part of modern entertainment.
Behind this gaming revolution lies a treasure trove of data and insights that define player behavior, trends, and the impact of gaming on society. The Solitaired team has gone through the numbers beneath the pixels and explores how they shape the way we play, connect,and experience gaming in the 21st century.
Key Findings
- The global games market is projected to produce $212.4 billion in 2026.
- Out of the total online population, 8 in 10 people engage with games.
- The total count of gamers will reach 3.6 billion by 2025.
- Mobile devices contributed $92.2 billion in revenue, accounting for half of the market's total earnings.
- More than 50% of players have made monetary transactions for games.
- 212.6 million Americans play video games at least one hour a week.
Contents
Gaming Statistics Worldwide
Gaming Market Statistics
Gaming Across Generations
U.S. Gaming Statistics
eSports Statistics
Contents
Gaming Statistics Worldwide
Gaming Market Statistics
Gaming Across Generations
U.S. Gaming Statistics
eSports Statistics
Gaming Statistics Worldwide
To say gaming continues to be popular is an understatement. Out of the total online population, 8 in 10 people engage with games.
of the total online population engage with games.
is the projected number of the total count of gamers by 2025.
new games were released on Steam only.
The projections indicate that the total count of gamers utilizing PC, consoles, tablets, and smartphones will exceed 3.3 billion this year and reach 3.6 billion by 2025. As the number of gamers increases, so does the number of games available.
In 2022, a staggering 10,000 new games were released on Steam only. Among these games, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) takes first place, achieving the highest all-time peak number of players, with an impressive 3,257,248 players. In comparison, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive secured the second spot with 1,818,773 players, a notably smaller figure.
Gamers by Region
The Asia-Pacific region holds the majority of global players, attributed to significant markets like India and China, as well as countries with a strong gaming culture such as Japan and South Korea.
Monetary investments in gaming
The act of investing money in video games is widely prevalent. More than 50% of players have made monetary transactions for games.
Recently, with the rise of free-to-play (F2P) games, in-game transactions have become increasingly common.
Publishers and developers of these games must provide captivating and valuable content to keep their player base engaged.
Game consoles
Game consoles are dedicated gaming platforms that provide users with immersive and interactive entertainment experiences.
Minecraft, an immensely successful video game, has achieved sales exceeding 238 million copies by April 2021. Despite its initial distribution as a Java applet in its alpha version, the game has since expanded to 22 platforms and attracts a monthly active player base of up to 139 million.
While Xbox Live is a no-cost service, subscribing to Xbox Live Gold is recommended to fully unlock its potential for online gaming. It provides online play capabilities, perks like game purchase discounts, early access, and beta versions of newly launched titles. The platform enjoys a combined user base of over 120 million active users across the free and paid segments.
Sony's PlayStation Plus is only available as a paid subscription. This strategy allows Sony to provide a comprehensive suite of premium features and benefits to its dedicated user base. As of the latest count, PlayStation Plus has garnered an impressive and ever-growing subscriber count of approximately 47.4 million.
Nintendo's gaming prowess shines through its remarkable console, the Nintendo Switch, which has captivated the gaming community with its innovative design and diverse game library. The console's extraordinary success is underscored by its impressive 109 million unit sales. The Wii, an earlier Nintendo console, also remains a strong contender with a remarkable 101.63 million units sold.
Game consoles
Game consoles are dedicated gaming platforms that provide users with immersive and interactive entertainment experiences.
Minecraft, an immensely successful video game, has achieved sales exceeding 238 million copies by April 2021. Despite its initial distribution as a Java applet in its alpha version, the game has since expanded to 22 platforms and attracts a monthly active player base of up to 139 million.
While Xbox Live is a no-cost service, subscribing to Xbox Live Gold is recommended to fully unlock its potential for online gaming. It provides online play capabilities, perks like game purchase discounts, early access, and beta versions of newly launched titles. The platform enjoys a combined user base of over 120 million active users across the free and paid segments.
Sony's PlayStation Plus is only available as a paid subscription. This strategy allows Sony to provide a comprehensive suite of premium features and benefits to its dedicated user base. As of the latest count, PlayStation Plus has garnered an impressive and ever-growing subscriber count of approximately 47.4 million.
Nintendo's gaming prowess shines through its remarkable console, the Nintendo Switch, which has captivated the gaming community with its innovative design and diverse game library. The console's extraordinary success is underscored by its impressive 109 million unit sales. The Wii, an earlier Nintendo console, also remains a strong contender with a remarkable 101.63 million units sold.
Mobile gaming
In 2022, mobile devices contributed $92.2 billion in revenue, accounting for half of the market’s total earnings.
A handful of titles stand out as the highest-grossing contenders on a global scale when it comes to mobile games.
Topping the charts is “Honor of Kings,” a captivating game that has amassed a staggering $864.32 million in revenue.
A close second is “PUBG MOBILE,” with $636.7 million, showcasing the enduring popularity of battle royale gameplay.
Mobile games have become integral to modern entertainment across various platforms, including iPhones, iPads, and Android. These devices offer a gateway to a diverse and ever-expanding gaming ecosystem, catering to various preferences and genres.
Subway Surfers secured the top position among Android gaming apps worldwide, with approximately 12.82 million downloads. Roblox followed closely behind, with 10.68 million downloads. The game “Indian Bikes Driving 3D” also gained significant popularity, amassing around 8.16 million downloads and making its mark among the leading Android gaming apps.
The iPhone gaming landscape was dominated by X-HERO, claiming the top spot with a remarkable 7.1 million downloads. Survivor.io also achieved notable success, securing the second position with 4.6 million downloads.
The landscape of popular iPad gaming apps was characterized by Stumble Guys, which claimed the top position with an impressive 2.3 million downloads, highlighting its widespread appeal among iPad users. Survivor.io secured the second spot with 1.1 million downloads.
Additionally, online card games like Spider Solitaire and FreeCell are becoming increasingly popular, and the industry is likely to experience more growth in the digital segment than in the physical one. The overall earnings are expected to increase yearly by 11.98% between 2022 and 2027, leading to a forecasted market size of US$22.45bn by 2027.
Video gaming
In 2022, video games generated substantial revenue in several countries, measured in billions of U.S. dollars. China led the pack with an impressive $90.21 billion, followed closely by the United States at $77.88 billion.
Japan also contributed significantly, amassing $63.98 billion from the gaming industry.
Video games have emerged as significant marketing instruments for numerous enterprises.
Games allow brands to engage with their desired demographics through methods that surpass conventional advertising approaches. Around half of players and/or viewers encountered new brands while participating in gaming activities.
Gaming Market Statistics
While the pandemic initially boosted the involvement in gaming, we saw a 4.3% decline in 2022, producing $184.4 billion. The scenario changes again in 2023, with the global games market reaching an estimated $187.7 billion.
However, with the player count anticipated to reach 3.6 billion by 2025, the overall market revenue will also advance by $212.4 billion in 2026. Here are the top public companies by game revenues
Gaming Across Generations
In 2022, mobile devices contributed $92.2 billion in revenue, accounting for half of the market’s total earnings.
Gen Z and Millennials allocate more of their entertainment time to gaming than any other form of amusement.
A noteworthy 81% of Gen Zs engage in gaming activities, and although this percentage diminishes with each successive older generation, a remarkable 42% of Baby Boomers also partake in gaming.
A parallel pattern emerges when observing the time spent on gaming: the older the generation, the less time is dedicated to gaming weekly.
Gen Z dedicates approximately 7 hours and 20 minutes to gaming each week, surpassing the average for Millennials by half an hour. This disparity can be attributed to commitments such as full-time employment and other life responsibilities.
Conversely, Baby Boomers engage in gaming for a mere two and a half hours per week, preferring to allocate a larger portion of their leisure time to conventional forms of entertainment.
U.S. Gaming Statistics
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults play video games regularly, which jumps to 76% for children under 18. 96% of them see games as beneficial.
They believe gaming creates opportunities to sharpen skills and stimulate the minds – even non-players recognize that. Additionally, 88% say playing with others has helped them expand their social circle.
About 45% of gamers concur that video games provide them with the greatest return on investment compared to movies, television, or music. The leading categories of video game genres for all players are puzzle games (63%).
The year-on-year spending reflects a substantial sum of $56.6 billion, underscoring the enduring appeal of the gaming industry.
Among the categories, console-related spending accounts for $6.6 billion.
When gaming, Americans seem to love mobile devices as they take the lead with a 64% usage rate. Consoles secure the second position at 54%.
Here are some other gaming facts about Americans
212.6 million
Americans play video games at least one hour a week
62%
of American adults play video games
32
is the avergae age of American video game player
53%
of American video game players identify as male
46%
of American video game players identify as female
eSports Statistics
eSports pertains to structured competitions within video gaming, leading up to regional and global championships for both professional and non-professional gamers.
The global eSports market is projected to grow substantially over the next decade. In 2022, the market size stood at 1.45 billion U.S. dollars, with projections indicating that the market will surge to a significant 6.75 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.
As of the year 2022, the revenue of the eSports market stood at 1,384 million U.S. dollars. The anticipated figures for 2025 reveal a notable advancement, with revenue expected to reach 1,866 million U.S. dollars.
The table below illustrates the revenue distribution within the global eSports market in 2022 across various segments.
The table below illustrates the revenue distribution within the global eSports market in 2022 across various segments.
Top Countries for eSport (2023)
As many countries continue to excel and thrive within this competitive and rapidly evolving sector, eSports is emphasizing its international reach and economic significance.
The United States claims the top spot with an impressive $15,9 million underscoring its dominance in the global eSports landscape. China follows closely in second place, having amassed a significant $13,4 million in earnings.
Bottom Line
The realm of gaming statistics provides a vivid snapshot of the dynamic landscape that gaming has evolved into. The data reveals the widespread engagement across various age groups and demographics and the shifting preferences in terms of devices and game genres.